Mechanism for operating signals



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. T. HAMBAY. MECHANISM FOR OPERATINGSIGNALS.

Nd. 408,616. Patented Aug. 6, 188.

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(No M0161 2 Sheets-Sheet I J. T. HAMBAY. I

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SIGNALS.

N9. 408,616. I Patented Aug; 6,1889.

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UNITED STATES JAMES T. HAMBAY, OF WILKINSBURG, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIONSWITCH PATENT QFFICE.

AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING SIGNALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,616, dated August6, 1889.

Application filed March 30, 1889. Serial No. 305,343. (No model.)

To all whom it may cmwern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. HAMBAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and usefulImprovements in Mechanism for Operating Signals, of which improvementsthe following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements inmechanism for operating signals, and has for its object a constructionof apparatus wherein the distantsignal is operated by or from themechanism employed for shifting the home signal, the mechanism being soconstructed as to insure the movement of the home signal to safety priorto clearingthe distant signal and the return of the distant signal todanger prior to a corresponding movement of the home signal.

In general terms, the invention consists in the construction andcombination of mechanical devices or elements, all as more fullyhereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is aview in front elevation of my improved mechanism, a portionof the frame beingbroken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, the plane ofsection be ing indicated by the line a: at, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view inrear elevation of the same; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line ny, Fig. 2.

In the practice of my invention 1 secure a frame 1, by suitable bolts,to the home-signal post. On a pin 3 secured in the frame 1, is looselymounted a sprocketwheel 4:, operated by a chain from the signahcabin inthe usual manner. On the rear side of the sprocketwheel is formed aplate 5, provided with an outwardly-projecting flange 6, and to saidplate is secured a pin 7, provided with afriction-roller, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, and

adapted to engage a horizontal slot 8 in the signal-bar 9 during aportion of the rotation of the sprocket-wheel 4. As shown in Fig. 3, thepin 7 is located at one end of the flanged plate 5, which does notextend entirely around the sprocket-wheel, a recess being formed in saidplate for the reception of the roller 10, secured to the signal-bar andarranged to rest 7 position.

upon the flange 6 and support the signal-bar in its raised positionaft-er the pin 7 has moved out of the slot 8, as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth.

On the front side of the sprocket-wheel 4 I form or fix guideways 11 forthe reception of a slide 12, having a socket 13 at its outer end for thereception of the latch 14, which is held in normal'position by a spring15 interposed between a shoulder on the latch and a cap on the socket13. The slide 12 is shifted radially by means of a friction-roller 16 onthe lower end of the slide and a cam-groove 17 formed in the face of astationary disk 18, secured, as shown, upon the pin 3. On the hub of thedisk 18, or directly upon the pin 3, is loosely mounted a sprocket-wheel19, around which is passed a chain leading to the distant signal. On therear face of the sprocket-wheel 19 I form a rim 20, having a series ofpockets or recesses 21 for the reception of the latch let, as will behereinafter described.

In Fig. 4 the apparatus is shown in normal If now the sprocket-wheel 4be rotated in the direction of the arrow or, the pin 7, engaging theslot 8 in the signal-bar, will raise the latter, thereby shifting thesignal to safety. It will be observed that during this rotation of thesprocket-wheel'and the consequent upward movement of the signal-bar thefriction-roller 10 on said bar will enter the recess' in the plate 5,and that during said movements the roller is gradually raised out of therecess, and that as the pin 7 moves out of engagement with the slot 8the flange 6 passes under the roller 10 and supports the same during thefurther rotation of the sprocket- Wheel 4:- 7

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that during the movement of thesprocket-wheel 4 the slide 12, carried by the sprocket-wheel, is notshifted radially, the disk 18, with its groove 17, being constructed andadjusted to that end; but as soon as the sprocketwheel 4 reaches thatpoint in its rotation before referred to, where the pin 7 leaves theslot 8 and the flange 6 passes under the roller 10, the roller 16engages the inclined portion 1) of the outer wall of the groove 17 inthe stationary disk 18 and is forced inwardly, and

with it the slide 12 and latch 14:, the latter into engagement with oneof the pockets 21 in the rim of the sprocket-wheel 19, thereby lockingthe sprocket-Wheel 19 to and causing it to rotate with thesprocket-wheel i. The sprocket-wheel 19 being connected by a chain orotherwise with the distant signal, the latter is thus shifted to safety.By reference to Figs. 1 and 4 it will be observed that the groove 17 ofdisk 18 is so constructed that after the slide 12 has been drawn in bythe shoulder 12 it is held in such position during the further rotationof the sprocket-Wheels.

It sometimes happens that as the slide 12 is moved inwardly the latchstrikes upon the partition between adjacent pockets; hence, in order toprevent the latch taking so firm bearing upon such partition as willcause the sprocket-wheel 19 to move around, the spring 15 is employed tohold the latch yieldingly in normal position, and permit of its slidingoff of the partition into one of the pockets.

I claim herein as my invention 1. In a mechanism for shifting home anddist-ant signals, the combination of a wheel provided with means foroperating the homesignal, a wheel provided with means for operating thedistant signal, and a lock for so connecting said wheels as to causethem to rotate together, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mechanism for shifting home and distant signals, the combinationof a wheel provided with means for operating the home signal, a wheelprovided with means for operating the distant signal, and a lockoperated by the home signal wheel for locking said wheels together,substantially as set forth.

3. In a mechanism for shifting home and distant signals,the combinationof ahorizontally-slotted signal -bar having a frictionroller 10 mountedthereon, a wheel provided with a pin for engaging the slot in thesignalbar and with a flange for engaging the frictionroller 10, a wheelprovided with means for operating the distant signal, and a lock forconnecting said wheels, substantially as set forth.

4. In a mechanism for shifting home and distant signals, the combinationof a wheel for operating the home signal, a radially-moving slide havinga latch mounted on said wheel, a stationarydisk having a cam-grooveformed therein adapted to engage and operate the slide, and asprocket-wheel for operating the distant signal having pockets for thereception of the latch, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sci my hand.

JAMES '1. IIAMBAY.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLooTT, W. B. Column.

